Returning to Arts Centre Melbourne

• The Australian Ballet will make a return to the Ian Potter State Theatre at Arts Centre Melbourne this October, marking its first performances on the iconic stage since March 2024, following the theatre’s major refurbishment.
• The homecoming will be celebrated with a limited season of Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker, one of the most beloved works in the classical repertoire. 

All tickets can be purchased via The Australian Ballet website. See below ticket on sale dates: 

• 3 February – Waitlist opens
• 4 February – Subscriber and supporter priority access pre-sale
• 10 February – Waitlist pre-sale
• 12 February – General public on sale 

• As a standalone production, The Nutcracker is not part of the 2026 subscription season.
• Subscribers received priority access to select their seats within the new seating layout ahead of the general public. Your seat selection for The Nutcraker has no bearing on subscription seating for 2027.

We know your seat is important to you. We're closely reviewing the new seating map to ensure you return to a seat that is the best possible match to the one you held before the venue disruptions.

• 2026 Principal Package subscribers will be allocated the closest equivalent seat to their original State Theatre seat within the updated layout.
• Principal Package subscribers who joined after 2023 will receive a new seat based on the price reserve associated with their current seat at the Regent Theatre.
• 2023 Principal Package subscribers who did not join us at the Regent Theatre will still have an allocated seat held for the 2027 season. 

Soon, we'll share your allocated seating and invite you to the Principal Package Subscriber Preview, a private event to see your seat and experience the renovated theatre.

For existing seat dedicators, the end date of any dedications will be extended by three years to accommodate for the theatre’s closure since March 2024. When the Ian Potter State Theatre opens in October 2026, most dedications will appear in their original or very similar locations on new seats with the same plaque wording for the remainder of the 25-year dedication.

Arts Centre Melbourne’s Seat Dedications team has notified dedicators of changes to their seat number, and individual communications have been undertaken to those whose seat no longer exists in the new layout. If you have a seat dedication and have not heard from Arts Centre Melbourne’s Seat Dedications team, you can reach out directly to [email protected] for further information.

Enhancements include improved acoustics, upgraded heating and ventilation, high-performance sound systems, energy-efficient lighting, and new aisles and accessible seating in the stalls. Heritage characteristics within the theatre have been preserved or replicated, while the addition of modern design and technological elements have brought the auditorium up to contemporary standards. New seats honour John Truscott’s original design and aesthetic, but are more accessible, comfortable and are made of materials that better support the acoustics of the auditorium.

The reimagined State Theatre offers greater comfort and better accessibility across all three levels and every price reserve. Updates include:

• Two new aisles in the Stalls and Circle to support access for patrons
• New lifts so that patrons with mobility challenges can easily move from the foyers to their seats
• New seats, flooring and amenity treatments

Arts Centre Melbourne offers a range of access services and amenities, including:

• Free wheelchair loans to assist with travel throughout the building. Book a wheelchair via phone on 1300 182 183 or via email at [email protected]. 
• An Assistive Hearing system
• Accessible toilets
• A Changing Places with a full-sized changing table, hoist system, toilet and basin on Level 3 of Hamer Hall
• Fixed bariatric seating options

All levels in the building can be reached via stairs or lift. There are also escalators between level 6 (street level) and level 5 (the main foyer and the level you enter from the carpark). Assistance Animals are welcome in all areas of Arts Centre Melbourne and water bowls are available on request.

• Parking is available at The Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre Car Park, conveniently located behind Arts Centre Melbourne, on Kavanagh Street.
• Arts Centre Melbourne also offers on-site parking, and public parking and transport options are also available.   
• See Arts Centre Melbourne’s website for full details.

Yes. The theatre foyers include hospitality and bar options. Please note service times may vary depending on performance times.

Yes. The redeveloped State Theatre features modern climate control, ensuring a comfortable environment for audiences.